Social Security & Seniors
Preserving Social Security
Rep. Israel believes that we need to protect and preserve Social Security so that Americans can retire with peace of mind. He has opposed efforts to privatize Social Security, including H.R. 2109 - a bill to privatize Social Security that was introduced in June 2011, because of the high risk involved with market fluctuations. Rep. Israel is open to Social Security reform efforts that do not turn the program into a stock market risk or otherwise undermine a program on which so many seniors depend.
In March 2009, the Congressional Budget Office forecast that there will not be a Social Security Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) for at least three years, making things even harder on seniors who are struggling to get by in this difficult economic climate.
Rep. Israel is a co-sponsor of legislation to address this problem. In the 112th Congress (2011-2012), Rep. Israel supports the Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers Act of 2011(H.R. 798). He also co-sponsored this legislation in the 111th Congress (2009-2010). The calculation used for seniors is unfortunately based on prices of goods and services for younger workers, whereas seniors are facing skyrocketing health care and energy costs. Rep. Israel supports legislation that would ask the Bureau of Labor Statistics to publish a Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers, which would take into consideration the different costs faced by seniors.
Rep. Israel also voted in favor of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (H.R.1), which included a one-time payment of $250 to retirees, disabled veterans and SSI recipients.
Protecting and Strengthening Medicare
On April 15, 2011, the House passed a budget resolution (H.Con.Res.34) that would end Medicare as we know it. Rep. Israel voted no and is strongly opposed to this plan. The proposal, introduced by GOP Budget Committee Chairman Rep. Paul Ryan, replaces the current Medicare program with a voucher system that would force seniors eligible to enter the program in 2022 to buy their own costly private insurance. The Senate voted against the Ryan Budget on May 25, 2011.
Rep. Israel believes that Congress and the White House must work together on a plan that will protect and strengthen Medicare, but that ending Medicare’s guaranteed benefit must be taken off the table.
Prescription Drug Prices Hard on Seniors
Affordable health care is increasingly dependent on affordable prescription medicines. Too many seniors are forced to go across the border to Canada or simply forgo purchasing their prescription drugs because of the high cost of medicine today. The cost of prescription drugs is increasing at double-digit rates, and seniors on fixed incomes are disproportionately affected by this.
Rep. Israel believes we should fund research on the effectiveness of cheaper alternatives to heavily marketed drugs. He is also fighting the powerful drug lobby in Washington to permit the re-importation of safe, legal drugs from Canada, where American consumers can pay up to 50 percent less for their prescriptions.
Rep. Israel cosponsored the Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act of 2007. This legislation, which passed the House of Representatives on January 12, 2007, requires the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to negotiate with drug companies for lower prices for Medicare recipients.
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Northport, NY. –Congressman Steve Israel (NY-03) released the following statement after participating in a House Veterans Affairs hearing today at the Northport Veterans Hospital. The hearing was held to inquire about recent reports of deficiencies at the hospital and a veteran suicide in a parking lot on facility grounds in August.
Melville, NY— Congressman Steve Israel (NY-03) called on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Social Security Administration (SSA) to conduct a thorough review of the Medicare enrollment process. Rep. Israel was joined by Andy Lord, a Melville resident who was forced to postpone his cancer treatments for aggressive prostate cancer due to a bureaucratic mistake between CMS and the SSA. Rep. Israel’s office was able to correct the mistake and get Mr.
Washington, DC—Today, Congressman Steve Israel (D-NY), Congressman Patrick Meehan (R-PA), and Congressman Ted Deutch (D-FL) released the following statement after receiving a response from The Pokémon Company notifying the Members that Nianitic, the developer of Pokémon Go, had removed the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM) from the game:
Washington, DC—Today, Congressman Steve Israel (D-NY), Congressman Patrick Meehan (R-PA), and Congressman Ted Deutch (D-FL) sent a bipartisan letter to the developer and publisher of the popular mobile game Pokémon Go, urging them to remove the PokéStops at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM) that encourages Pokémon Go users to play the game inside the museum. Reps. Israel, Meehan and Deutch are appointed members of the United States Holocaust Memorial Council.
Manhasset, NY—Today, Congressman Steve Israel (NY-03) and Congresswoman Kathleen Rice (NY-04) joined the American Association of University Women (AAUW) and the Unitarian Universalist Congregation Women’s Group to sign a proclamation declaring April 12th as “Equal Pay Day” on Long Island.
Melville, NY—Congressman Steve Israel (NY-03) is urging caution to families and spring break travelers planning to visit areas that have been affected by the Zika virus outbreak. According to the World Health Organization, the mosquito-borne virus is “spreading explosively” across the Americas, right as peak spring break travel season begins.
Washington —Today, Rep. Steve Israel (D-Huntington) announced that he will not seek reelection this November. He released the following statement:
“Nearly 16 years ago, I was honored to take the oath of office and stand on the House Floor for the first time. Now, I’ve decided to leave the House in 2017. I hope to continue to be involved in public service, but it is time for me to pursue new passions and develop new interests, mainly spend more time writing my second novel.
Washington— Congressman Steve Israel (NY-03), a member of the House Appropriations Committee, voted in support of the Fiscal Year 2016 Omnibus Appropriations Act, which includes key provisions for New York, including Queens and Long Island. Passed by the House of Representatives by a bipartisan vote of 316-113, the omnibus appropriates $1.1 trillion in spending through FY 2016.
Manhasset, NY—Congressman Steve Israel (D-Huntington), State Sen. David Carlucci (D-Clarkstown), New York State Assemblyman Charles Lavine (D-Glen Cove) and local stakeholders called on New York State to position itself as the center of Alzheimer’s research through the creation of a bonding initiative that would fund research, create jobs, and give hope to the 5.3 million Americans currently living with the disease. Even though Alzheimer's is the costliest chronic disease in the United States, federal investments in research are failing to keep pace with the scope of the disease. Rep.
Farmingdale, NY –Representative Steve Israel (NY-03) announced today that he hosted a Federal Grants Summit to provide local leaders and non-profits with resources and information on applying for federal funding opportunities, and securing grant awards. The event, held at SUNY Farmingdale, included nearly 100 local officials, non-profits and organizations who attended free panel presentations with representatives from federal agencies.